Congratulations! You have been admitted into the UK University of your choice to study your dream course. Now it’s time to start a new life in the UK as an International student. One major challenge for new university students in the UK, especially international students, is the issue of accommodation.
Finding the right accommodation within reasonable a budget, in a good location, and having ideal flatmates to live with might be a daunting task for new students
There are 3 main types of student accommodation in the UK. University halls of residence, Private student halls, or rented flats and apartments somewhere close to the University campus.
Depending on your personality, lifestyle, and budget here are some tips you might find useful in your quest to find the perfect student accommodation.
What Type of Accommodation Do You Want?
Your personality type and lifestyle will be the main determinants here. If you’re an extrovert and like to stay around people, the University halls of residence may be the perfect accommodation type for you. On the other hand, if you like to lead a private life, renting a studio in a private hall or renting an apartment or a flat with ensuite rooms might be the ideal accommodation type for you.
With the University halls of residence, you get to share bathrooms and kitchen with other students. But in a studio apartment, you have your own kitchen and bathroom, and in a shared flat with ensuite rooms, you only share the kitchen with 1 or 2 flatmates.
Your Accommodation Budget
The University halls of residence are usually much cheaper than the private student halls but with the extra costs for the private student halls come good facilities like the gym, and private kitchens and bathrooms. Rented flats and apartments too, are more expensive and could come with some hidden charges like the utility bills, contents insurance, the communal cleaning charges, and other service charges.
If you don’t have any preference for one accommodation type over the other, then you might want to go for the University halls of residence which is the cheapest option.
Location
How close where you live is to the University Campus is very important and should be taken into consideration when looking for the right accommodation for you.
It is very important you live somewhere close to the campus even if you prefer to live in Private student halls or rented flats and apartments. This will cut down your everyday commute to the campus and the cost of transport.
If location is very important to you, the University Halls of residence are located right within the campus and might be your best accommodation option. All that separates you from your room and the lecture hall or the classroom might just be a 5-minute walk.
Research Service Providers and Required Licences
If you prefer to live in a privately rented flat or apartment, you may have to do some research on service providers, like electricity and Internet providers, to know the providers you will be using. Having a good idea of the service providers, their prices, and any licence required is recommended.
In some rented flats and apartments, the rent is all-inclusive and you won’t have to worry about any utility or services providers or any other hidden charges.
What to Bring with You
Most university halls of residence and private student halls are fully furnished, but you might still need to bring some items along like bedding and kitchen equipment.
Students who want to live in a private rented flat or house, you should check whether the property is fully furnished or not to know they might need to bring along to complement what is already provided.
Finding the right accommodation can be very stressful, especially for International students. We hope you will find the tips in this article useful to find the ideal student accommodation for yourself.
Looking to study abroad, especially in the UK? Worldwide Integrated Network and Education helps Nigerian students get into academic institutions of their choice abroad for High School, Undergraduate, and Postgraduate programmes. You can reach out to our team of Certified Admission and Immigration Consultants via email: info@winenetedu.com for more information.